Adios, Archie

Wednesday

Jul 16, 2014 at 12:02 AM

By Anamika RoyDaily News Staff

As Archie fans pick up this month’s edition of “Life with Archie,” they will be in for a tear-jerker as their beloved red-haired comic book character takes a bullet for his gay friend, Kevin Keller.“You definitely get choked up a bit when you see it happen,” said Jay Pillarella of Rubber Chicken Comics in Bellingham.Kevin was introduced in the Archie Comics spinoff, “Veronica,” in 2010. He’s the first openly gay character in the series. The character was so well received that he got his own spinoff as well.“They’ve been trying to get bolder and bolder with the Archie stories lately so I think this is pretty cool,” said Pillarella.This isn’t the first time a popular comic book character has taken a stance on a big social issue. “Teen Titans” had plotlines about drugs in the 1970s and the Incredible Hulk had a friend who died of HIV. And as evidence of true fantasy-land super powers, on Tuesday, Marvel Comics announced that Thor will be a woman in its upcoming series.“It’s very easy to take this culture which is simple and deal with issues without shock value,” said Jack Lefevra, owner of Bedrock Comics in Framingham.Lefevra thinks Archie is able to stay relevant by adapting to current social norms and addressing controversial issues.“He’s been around for so long, much like the issues he’s dealing with,” said Lefevra.Since gun control and gay rights are both controversial issues, Archie’s death may fuel a backlash.“You’re going to have the haters,” said Lefevra.Archie dies during an assassination attempt on Kevin Keller, a U.S. Senator who supports gun control and is married to another man in the series.Pillarella thinks readers who have an open mind will benefit from Archie’s story.“Some people will read them the wrong way but those who don’t will learn something,” he said. "It does more good than bad.”While comic book readers are 90 percent male, Archie has attracted more female readers, according to Lefevra. TV writer and actress Mindy Kaling used to buy Archie comics at Bedrock, then known as Bop City Comics.Even with Marvel’s “Avengers” gaining popularity, Archie Comics continue to be a hit at both the Bellingham and Framingham stores.“I think it’s quite impressive that after all these years, they’re making books that are still relevant,” said Pillarella.Archie’s death is part of the ending of the series, “Life with Archie,” which chronicles the character's adult life. The series will end after its last book is released next month. It began in 1958, ended in 1990, and was revived in 2010.But this isn’t the last readers will hear about Archie. His character will appear in other series, including “Afterlife with Archie,” where the Riverdale gang turns into zombies. That series was inspired by a spike in interest in zombie characters from hit TV shows such as “The Walking Dead.”Anamika Roy can be reached at 508-626-3957 or aroy@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @anamikaroy.